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In some instances, the medicinal body undergoes a partial decomposition by the digestive organs, in transitu, by which some of its constituents escape into the circulation, while the others are completely digested, and converted into chyle; this occurs with saline compounds into which vegetable acids enter as constituents. See Potassæ Acetas. It is also stated in the history of Diluents, that there is reason to believe that Water may under particular circumstances suffer decomposition, and transfer its elements for the formation of new compounds, furnishing oxygen to some, and hydrogen to others. There is likewise reason to suppose, that in particular conditions of the digestive functions, a remedy may be at once rendered inert by its entire decomposition.^[131]

That an impression made upon the stomach by a medicinal agent, should be the means of exciting an action in the distant parts of the machine, will not appear extraordinary when we consider how universal a sympathy and control this central organ exercises over every function of the body; imbued with exquisite and diversified sensibilities,—subjected to the first and coarsest impressions of our various ingesta,—stretched occasionally to an enormous extent by the unrestricted indulgence of appetite,—disturbed by the passions,—exhausted by volition, and debilitated by intense thinking; in short, assailed by numerous foes from without, and harassed by various revolutions from within, can we feel surprised that the aberrations of this viscus should give origin to the greater number of maladies with which we are afflicted, or that those medicinal applications should be effective that are directed for their cure, through the medium of its sympathies?